Read Dead Poets Society for Free Online Page B

the campus under the light of a sky glowing with
stars.
    “It’s cold,” Todd
complained as they escaped the open, windblown campus and moved through an
eerie pine forest, looking for the cave. Charlie ran ahead as the others
trudged slowly in the cold.
    “We’re almost
there,” Knox said as they reached the bank of the stream and began searching
for the cave that was supposed to exist somewhere among the tree roots and
brush.
    “Yaa! I’m a dead
poet!” Charlie shouted, suddenly popping out of nowhere. He had found the cave.
    “Ahh!” Meeks
shrieked. “Eat it, Dalton,” Meeks said to Charlie, recovering his composure.
    “This is it, boys,”
Charlie smiled. “We’re home!”
    The boys crowded
into the dark cave and spent several minutes gathering sticks and wood, trying
to light a fire. The fire came to life and warmed the barren interior. The boys
stood silently, as if in a holy sanctuary.
    “I hereby reconvene
the Welton Chapter of the Dead Poets Society,” Neil said solemnly. “These
meetings will be conducted by me and by the rest of the new initiates now
present. Todd Anderson, because he prefers not to read, will keep minutes of
the meetings.” Todd winced as Neil spoke, unhappy but unable to speak up for
himself.
    “I will now read the
traditional opening message from society member Henry David Thoreau.” Neil
opened the book that Keating had left him and read: “‘I went to the woods
because I wished to live deliberately.’” He skipped through the text. “T wanted
to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life!’”
    “I’ll second that!”
Charlie interrupted.
    “To put to rout all
that was not life,”‘ Neil continued, skipping again. “‘And not, when I came to
die, discover that I had not lived. ‘” There was a long silence.
    “Pledge Overstreet,”
Neil said.
    Knox rose. Neil
handed him the book. Knox found another page and read: “‘If one advances
confidently in the direction of his dreams, he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours.’ Yes!” Knox said, his eyes blazing. “I want success
with Chris!“
    Charlie took the
book from Knox. “Come on, man,” he said, making a face at Knox, “this is
serious.” Charlie cleared his throat.
     
    “There’s the
wonderful love of a beautiful maid,
    And the love of a
staunch, true man,
    And the love of a
baby that’s unafraid.
    All have existed
since time began.
    But the most
wonderful love, the Love of all loves,
    Even greater than
the love for Mother,
    Is the infinite,
tenderest, passionate love,
    Of one dead drunk
for another.”
     
    “Author anonymous,”
Charlie laughed as he handed the book to Pitts.
    “‘Here lies my wife:
here let her lie. Now she’s at rest... And so am I!’” Pitts giggled. “John
Dryden, 1631-1700. I never thought those guys had a sense of humor!” he said.
    Pitts handed the
book to Todd while the boys laughed at his joke. Todd froze, holding the book,
and Neil quickly took it before the others noticed. Charlie grabbed the book
from Neil and read:
    “Teach me to love?
Go teach thyself more wit:
    I chief professor am
of it.
    The god of love, If
such a thing there be,
    May learn to love
from me.“
     
    The boys “oohhed and
aahhed” at Charlie’s alleged prowess. “Come on guys, we gotta be serious,” Neil
said.
    Cameron took the
book. “This is serious,” he said and began to read:
     
    “We are the music
makers
    And we are the
dreamers of dreams,
    Wandering by lonely
sea-breakers,
    And sitting by
desolate streams;
    World losers and
world forsakers,
    On whom the pale
moon gleams:
    Yet we are the
movers and shakers
    Of the world,
forever, it seems.
    With wonderful
deathless ditties
    We build up with
world’s great cities,
    And out of a
fabulous story
    We fashion an
empire’s glory:
    One man with a
dream, at pleasure
    Shall go forth and
conquer a crown;
    And three with a new
song’s measure
    Can trample an empire
down.
    We in the ages
lying,
    In the buried